Math Mammoth placement tests - free math assessment

The placement tests below are "end of the year" tests for Math Mammoth complete curriculum. In other words, the tests are meant to be taken AFTER studying the particular grade.

You can also use these tests as general math diagnostic tests, to help you find if your student has any gaps or has not learned specific topics, because the tests group the questions by topic. Just look at the test results per "sections" of similar problems (addition, multiplication, measuring, geometry, place value, problem solving). You can always email me your child's test results if in doubt.

Placement into Math Mammoth: The goal is to find a test that the child passes or nearly passes, which means that the score is approximately in the 65-85% range. That test will then indicate the general placement of the child in Math Mammoth. If the child scores better, consider administering the next test up. If the child does worse than 65%, consider administering the next lower level test.

I recommend that in order to start with Math Mammoth complete curriculum for grade level X, the student should score 80% or more in the previous year's "end of year" test. Children scoring between 70 and 80% may also continue with the next grade, depending on the types of errors (careless errors or not remembering something, vs. lack of understanding). Use your judgment.

Tip: If you notice your child has problems with one or two concept areas in a particular test, but otherwise does fine, you can use Math Mammoth Blue Series books to "fill in those gaps". You can also email me with your test results if you have trouble deciding which Blue Series book you should use for such remedial work.

An example

Here is an example of one student's test results and the placement advice I gave to the parent of this student.

Background: the student began homeschooling the same year as the tests were taken and is technically in 7th grade. She had started doing Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1. However, the parent noticed that she didn't know some basic fraction information, decided to look for a supplement, and came across Math Mammoth.

The student took three end-of-year tests: for grade 6, grade 5, and grade 4. She did not do very well in the grade 6 test, but you can see her work for grade 4 and grade 5 tests in the links below. If you decide to send me your child's test results, it is not necessary to send me the complete test like this person did, but it makes a good example. Most people send me only the point counts for the various test items.

I think it's a good idea to have her start at grade 5 in Math Mammoth.

Additionally, I feel she should study these books from the Blue series.

Early Geometry, because she doesn't seem to understand the concepts of area and perimeter – which are of paramount importance. This book is for grades 1-3 so some topics in it are too easy and she can skip them.

Geometry 1 – meant for grades 4-5. She will need to study the lessons that are in 4th grade level first (angles, quadrilaterals, triangles, etc.) Please note some of the content here overlaps with MM grade 5. She can study the overlapping lessons from either source.

Measuring 1 – it is for grades 1-3 but she may need to review everything from the beginning when it comes to measuring units. Some lessons may be too easy and can be omitted - use your judgment on that.

Measuring 2 – for grades 4-6. Please note some of the content here overlaps with MM grades 5 and 6. She can study the overlapping lessons from either source.

Decimals 1
She has not grasped the basics of how fractions and decimals tie together – which, once again, is a very fundamental concept. She should study Decimals 1 book before starting the decimals chapter in grade 5.

Other than those few areas (geometry, measuring, decimals), she can be placed into MM 5.

By the way, don't assign all the problems that have to do with calculations (large exercise sets) in any of the materials. It's enough to assign maybe 1/3 of those at first. If she has difficulties, then use the rest (and that may be the case when it comes to, say, perimeter and area).

And, she did really well with the first two sections of grade 5 end-of-year-test, which means she could perhaps skip the first two chapters in MM5. You could let her study the chapter reviews and/or tests from those 2 chapters. Check and see how she does with them, and then use your judgment if she'd need to study any of the lessons from those chapters.

Thankfully, she also understands many things of fraction arithmetic, which will make things go quicker in part 5-B.

I'm really glad her 'gaps' are not in general problem solving! It's far easier to deal with topics such as measuring units, area, and perimeter, than to fix a general lack of not being able to solve word problems (which is the case with many children).

Sincerely,
Maria Miller

Questions about placement

My K student wants more challenge and to do 1st grade math. How can I know if the Light Blue grade 1 is the right choice for my child?

The Light Blue grade 1 starts out with the same material as these books from the Blue Series: Addition 1 and Subtraction 1. Look over those, see their samples and contents, and that will probably tell you if your children are ready for grade 1.

I thought my child had been doing fine in math previously (getting A's and B's), but he/she still failed the placement test for their particular grade level.

This is common for a child coming from public school or from another math curriculum. It is typically due to the facts that (i) Math Mammoth uses multi-step word problems extensively from 2nd grade onward; and (ii) the child may not have covered all the topics in the other curriculum as what are covered in MM. Geometry & measuring often end up being such areas.

To catch up, please see the Tip above about using the Blue Series books. Another thing you can do is accelerate through the earlier levels of Math Mammoth, for example by studying the chapter reviews, and stopping to study any concept that the child has not understood.

This kind of process can typically be done in only a few months, so don't worry! It is much more important to get a solid foundation in math than to look at the grade levels and just go on. In math, it is crucial to understand the previous concepts, because if not, the student WILL eventually fail and most also start hating math.

I'm a Math-U-See user and my child has not studied some of the materials you cover earlier than MUS. How do I switch over to Math Mammoth?

I'd simply recommend you first have her take a placement test to know exactly what she knows and what she doesn't about those topics that MUS does not cover as much, such as measuring, money, clock, geometry and problem solving.

Then once you have had the child take the test, you can choose books from the Blue Series to address specific topic areas (see the chart above).

Remember also, I'm ready to guide you with these decisions. Just let me know the child's test results by sections.

By Maria Miller

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An initial email to download your GIFT of over 400 free worksheets and sample pages from my books;6 other emails on 6 subsequent days that describe the different series of Math Mammoth products, answering the most commonly asked questions, including "What is the difference between all these different-colored series?"

This way, you'll have time to digest the information over one week, plus an opportunity to ask me personally which book would be right for your child or students.

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